Laparoscopic sponger-dissector forceps

A multipurpose laparoscopic instrument useful for blunt manipulation and sponging of intra-abdominal tissue, comprising in combination,

• an elongate substantially cylindrical housing adapted to be held by hand, of a length exceeding 30 cm and of a distal end diameter of about 10 mm,
• means for reciprocally sliding a rod within the housing over a limited range of movement,
• sponge holding means positioned on a distal end of the rod for grasping and retaining a sponge in response to reciprocal movement of the rod within the housing, and
• ratcheting means disposed within a proximal end of said housing comprising ratchet teeth disposed on a member slidably movable with said rod and a ratchet teeth catch mechanism operable manually from a position outside the housing,
• wherein the sponge holding means clamps and holds a sponge firmly in place at the distal end of the rod in a retracted position of the rod established by the ratchet teeth catch engagement with the ratchet teeth and releases the sponge when the catch is manually released and the rod is extended, and wherein said sponge holding means further comprises a pair of jaw members for movement with reciprocation of the rod and having a mechanism operable in the distal end of the housing to open the jaws in an extended position of the rod and to close them in a clamping position in a retracted position of the rod,
• wherein said sponge holding means further comprises a 7 shaped configuration of the distal end of the rod with a laterally extending arm for mating in a mounting cavity of a sponge and with a seating structure at the end of the cylindrical housing for engaging and seating sponges when the rod is retracted.

A multipurpose laparoscopic instrument useful for blunt manipulation and sponging of intra-abdominal tissue, comprising in combination,

• an elongate substantially cylindrical housing, adapted to be held by hand, of a length exceeding 30 cm and of a distal end diameter of about 10 mm,
• means for reciprocally sliding a rod within the housing over a limited range of movement,
• sponge holding means positioned on a distal end of the rod for grasping and retaining a sponge in response to the reciprocal movement of the rod within the housing,
• ratcheting means disposed within a proximal end of said housing comprising ratchet teeth disposed on a member slidably movable with said rod and a ratchet teeth catch mechanism operable manually from a position outside the housing,
• wherein the sponge holding means clamps and holds a sponge firmly in place at the distal end of the rod in a retracted position of the rod established by the ratchet teeth catch engagement with the ratchet teeth and releases the sponge when the catch is manually released and the rod is extended, and
• a proximal end housing portion of greater diameter than 10 mm in which the ratchet teeth are disposed and means coupling the proximal portion of the 10 mm diameter cylindrical housing at a transition joint retaining a sterile seal plug for engaging said rod and fitting into the distal end housing portion.